Knockdown camp bed



Dec. 22, 1925. 1,566,574

- P. w. BERG v KNOCKDOWN CAMP BED Filed March 8. 1924 Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES AT N OFFICE.

PAUL w. BERG, or TACOMA, w-nsninsron, f

KNocKnowN onlvrrtenn.

Application filed Main; 8,1924; 'Serial No. 697,860.

T all whom it may concern: a I Be it known that 1, PAUL W. BERG, a

citizen of the United States, residing at 'only three separate parts, in which each Tacoma, in the county of Pierce, State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Camp Beds, ofwhich the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to beds adapted for camp or other temporary use, and has for its objects toprovide a bed which'can be quickly set up 'orkno'ck'ed down; which, when in knock-downcondition, consists'of Fig. 1 -is aperspective view of the-bed f as set up for use; Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofa portion thereof to illustrate the tightening means; Figs. '3 and 4 are elevations of the footand head end bars, respectively;

.. of a touring nature in an automobile, or-

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the bed; Fig. 6 is a plan of one end of one of the side bars; Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof showing the leg in the act of being folded to the side bar; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the leg in. folded position; and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the cen tral fold of the side bar. Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In camping trips of all kinds, whether hunting on foot or horseback, by canoe or boat, the arrangements for a bedstead are very important and troublesome. I have devised the following described bed which fills this need in a satisfactory manner.

Referring to the drawings: the bed consists of only three separate parts, namely the two side bars and thebed or mattress. The bed or mattress consists of a canvas or other fabric body 1, one end of which is securely fastened or looped around the foot cross bar 2, and. the other end of which is attached to the head cross bar or shaft {fin such; manner that' when the shaft 3 is rotated the fabric 1 isfwound thereon.

The foot cross bar 2 consists of a metal pipe bent downward at right angles at its two ends thus forming sockets l'into which the upper ends of the hereinafter described legs fit. The shaft 8 is rotatably mounted in two 'T-shaped fittings '5, at its ends, the shanks of said fittings forming sockets 6 similar to the sockets 4 above "described.

The 'shaft 3 passes entirely through said fittings Q5'andone'end 7 is upset to hold the fitting thereon. 'Theother end extends a short distance beyond said fitting 5 and is provided with a ratchet 'wheel 8 secured thereto byla pin 9. p I The side bars each comprise two, sections 1t and 1 1,-secured-to'gether'- at the center the pivots'or hinges 12in such manner thatthey may be folded together-to'bring their extreme ends together. 5' }Each section is made'of a metal angle-iron and they are arranged to have the 'verticalflanges on the outside and the' horizontal flanges on top (Fig. 5). The section 10 is somewhat longer than the section 11 so asto lap over said section: 11, which extends onlyto the pivot 12. Afilug 13 extends down from the end of the horizontalflange of the section 10 and enters aholel l in the corresponding part of the section 11' when the side bar is extended, thus'holding the two sections in line when strain" is applied thereto by the tension in the mattress 1 and by the load thereon. A small notch 15' iscut in the ends of the horizontal flanges of the sections 10 and 11 and is adapted to receive the legs when inoperative position (Fig. 6).

The four legs 16 'each'consist of a short length of metal pipe of such size as is adapted to enter thesockets L and 6, above described. Each leg'16 is secured to the section 10 01-11 of the side bar, in. swingable manner, by means of two metal radius bars 17 and18,each secured to the side bars and to the leg 16 by suitable pivots to permit them to turn relatively thereto. upper radius bar 17 is relatively short and,

when the bed is set up, the end of the side bar horizontal flange rests directly on the said radius bar close to the leg (Fig. 7). This bar 17. is slightly offset near its connection to'the said side bar inorder to permit it to pass over the other bar 18 when in folded position *(Fig. 6). The other The load.

radius bar 18 extends from a point on the side bar slightly further removed from theend than the corresponding end of the bar 17, to a point near the base of the leg 16. The lengths of these two bars 17 and 18, and their distance apart at their two ends are such that, when the leg is swung into operative position, it is substantially at right angles to the side bar 10 or 11 to which it is attached but, when it is in folded position it lies substantially parallel with and against thevertical flange of the angle iron side bar. The bars 17 and 18 are secured :on the inner side of the said verticalflange 'to it, anddraw the leg 16 out of the socket 6, I provide a pin 20 which passes through suitably registering holes in thesaid socket 6 and in the upper end of'the' said leg 16, whereby the said parts are securely yet removably fastened together. The pin 20 may be loosely-held bya'chain or wire 21 to any convenient part of the fitting 5.

The bed'is set up. by first unrolling the bundle; removing the two side bars; unfolding the bars and placing the barrhaving the ratchet dog next the end of the shaft 3 on which the ratchet wheel 8 is mounted, and the other side bar in corresponding position on the other side;

opening out the legs at one end of each bar and passlng the sockets 4: over thelr ends; opening out the other legs and passing the sockets 6 over their ends. In this position the bed is not rigid because there is no bracing against side sway or any skew bracing until the fabric 1 is tightened. This is done by inserting any suitable handle in the end o-f'the shaft 8, engaging the pin 9 therein, and turning the shaft to apply tension to the fabric, which then tightens all thejoints and the bed is rigid and ready for use. The fabric 1, being above the level of the side bars, tends to bend them'down at the center and thus prevents them from turning up onthe pivots 12 when the bed is in use, andthe overlapping part of the section 10 prevents theiropening downward 7 and is held firmlyon top of the section 11 by the strain on said fabric. 1

Having described my invention, what I claim is 2- In a knock-down bed, the combination of two vertically foldable side bars; four legs positioned at the ends of said sidebars; two

radius barsof different lengths swingably attached at their ends to the side bars and to each of the legs, whereby the legs may be swung into operative position at right angles to said side bars at the ends thereof or. swung back against and substantially parallel thereto; across bar formed with downturned sockets atit-s. ends, said sockets onthe end of said cross shaftqadjacent said secured fitting; and a-ratchet dog mounted on the side bar adjacent said ratchet wheel and engaging the teeth thereof, whereby when the shaft is rotated to wind up'and tighten the fabric, the dog will hold it in tightened condition.

PAUL w. BERG. 

